The design of the American flag as we know it today has deep historical roots, particularly involving Betsy Ross and the symbolism of stars.
Originally, a six-pointed star was favored, but Betsy Ross proposed the now-familiar five-pointed star. This led to the current design with each star symbolizing a state.
The Civil War era marked significant events for the flag, particularly during the bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861, where Col. Robert Anderson and his troops saved the flag while abandoning the fort…